Are trucking companies liable for trucking accidents?

A truck accident lawsuit is one that occurs because of an accident in which someone was injured or killed as a result of negligence by a truck driver or the trucking company. Many truck accidents are the result of truck drivers not getting enough sleep and working double shifts. A truck driver who falls asleep at the wheel is often the cause of many truck driving accidents. When this occurs and the truck collides with a car, the results are usually serious personal injuries or fatalities. 

There are truck driving laws that are designed to prevent truck accidents. These laws regulate how long a driver can work while driving a truck as well as how often a truck has to be maintained. Another common cause of truck accidents is poor maintenance of the vehicle. This does not account for as many truck driving accidents as driver negligence, but it is the second most common cause of such devastating accidents.  

If the truck driving company is found to ignore the laws regarding how long their drivers can work and how far they can go without sleep, they can be brought in as a co-defendant in a truck accident lawsuit. A truck accident lawyer will be able to determine whether or not the trucking company has any liability in the accident. Most truck accident lawyers will include the truck driving company in the lawsuit to cover all bases. As most truck accident lawsuits settle out of court, this may end up meaning more damages for the injured party involved in a truck accident. 

If the truck accident lawyer can prove the trucking company knowingly broke the law that resulted in the truck accident, they can seek punitive damages from the company in addition to civil damages. A truck accident lawyer who is well versed in trucking laws of the state, as well as interstate commerce laws, will be able to decide whether or not to include the trucking company or truck manufacturer as party to an accident lawsuit.